Billions in renewable energy projects to be completed by 2020- Min. Patterson

Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson today announced that several renewable energy projects involving solar, wind and hydro and amounting to some 30 megawatts will be completed by 2020.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press conference today, Minister Patterson said these will be constructed in the three new towns, Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma, as well as Mahdia and several interior locations.

In Bartica, a 1.5-megawatt solar farm, with storage will be constructed with funding provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) at a cost of US$3.8 Million. The project will commence sometime this year and will last for 18 months.

A micro hydro power project of one megawatt will be constructed at Ituribisi with funding under the Guyana REDD Plus Investment Fund (GRIF) at a total investment cost of US$5.22Million. The time frame for implementation is two and half years.

Technical assessments and other studies are ongoing.

Minister Patterson said too that a 2.2 megawatts dual hydro-system, using the Moco Moco and Kumu Falls, will be constructed. The funding will be received through the United Arab Emirates and the GRIF. The project time is two and a half years.

In Mabaruma the installation of a 0.4-megawatt solar farm with storage is ongoing with funding of US$1.3Million provided through the National Budget. This project, the Minister said is slated to be completed in August.

A US$1.8Million Photovoltaic system will be constructed within 18 months in Mahdia.

And Government has given private developers up to the end of July to secure financing for the 2.2-megawatt Tumatumari hydro project. Minister Patterson said Government will enter a power purchase agreement with the company if they are successful.

If not, the government will take over the project, which is anticipated to cost US$4.4Million.

Funding has been secured to commence the hydro project in Kato, in Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) and the Hope Beach Wind Farm project remains on the cards.

In addition, a micro hydro of 0.02-megawatt also funded through the National Budget at a cost of US$200, 000 will commence in Mabaruma during the third quarter of this year. Completion is anticipated for mid-2019.

These and other renewable energy projects will be undertaken this year.

Further, Minister Patterson said, as a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Guyana will benefit from a US$15Million line of credit, from which Government plans to power several Indigenous communities.

The Ministries of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and Communities have been tasked with identifying these villages.

These, he noted will be utility scale installations rather that roof top solar, to ensure entire villages are powered. It is anticipated that 4 megawatts of power will be achieved from that project.

Total investment in renewable energy since 2017 amount to some US$7.7Million.

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